US1899566A - Circuit breaker - Google Patents

Description

S. S. GREEN CIRCUIT BREAKER Feb. 28, 1933.

Filed Nov. 5, 1928 @15430: new

Patented Feb. 28, 1933 UNITED STATES' PATENT oFFIcE STANLEY S. GREEN, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR TO DUNCAN ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF LA .'EAYETTE, INDIANA, Av CORPORATION 0F ILLINOIS CIRCUIT BREAKER .Application led November It is the general object of my present invention to produce a dependable liquid-conductor reclosable cut-out or circuit controller co-pending application Serial No.A 285,114,

' ductor a supplementa tiled J une 13, 19,28.

The structure of this present application, however, while dominated by said co-pending application, relates to certain additional features not disclosed in said co-pending and generic application.

The main distinguishing objects of the'invention of this present application are:

1. To provide a supplemental excess-current circuit-breaking device, desirably in the form of va fuse located within the circuit controller, which will serve to break the'circuit inthe case of some unusual emergency, as upon enlargement ofthe restricted portion if said passage.

, 2. To provide separate from the electrodes and the co-operating art of the liqiliid consafety-switc .action by which an'additional'breaking of the current occurs in. manual operation, and which serves -as a supplemental break in the circuit during the action'ot` re-establishing the connection through the liquid conductor between electrodes.

3:"10 provide a filling and venting arrangement by which the liquid conductor is fed into the current-limiting passage from the same end at which it is in the main discharged upon excessive current, and from the end which is normally uppermost of said passage; and by which the venting is-qbtained from the opposite end of` said passage.

The accompanying drawing illustrates my invention in certain preferred forms, inde pendently of any mounting and of any definite current-supplying means, as they may take many forms. In such drawing, Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section of a cut-out or circuit' controller embodying my invention,

5, 1928. Serial No. 317,221.'

with the device in the off position; Fig..

tion -of the device shown in Figs. 1 and 2,`

and is viewed with the device in an intermediate position between off and normal on positions; Fig. 4 is a view generally similar to Fig. 1, with the device in off position, but. showing a modiiication in which the supplemental switching mechanism is external instead of internal; and Fig. 5 is an elevation of the modification shown in Fig. 4, on a smaller scale, and with the device in fnormal on7 position.

[I will first describe my invention in connection with the structure shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3.

Inthis form, there is a main cup-shaped insulating. shell 10, which as shown is pivotally mounted on transverse pivot pins 11 whereby the device may be swung between the positions shown-in Figs. 1 and 2. The open end of this shell is closed by a plug 12, also desirably of insulating material, which is held in place in any suitable manner, as by cement and a tight fit. On its lower side, the cup-shaped shell 10 is provided with an opening 13, which receives the upper end of a second insulating plug 14; which may also be held in place in anysuitable manner, as by cement and a tight tit. v

On the lower end of the plug 14 is mounted a metal cap 15, which is at once one of the terminals ,of the device and one of the electrodes. As here shown, the cap 15 has a threaded stud lextending outward therefrom,to which one of the lead-in wires 17 may be attached as to a binding post, such wire here being s'utliciently flexible to permit the.v

each other at the lower end of the plug 14, as by a depression 23 formed in the inner face of the cap 15. The hole 20 is provided,

, sectional area when that portion 24 is filled with the liquid conductor 25; which is most conveniently mercury. The sie of this restricted portion 24 may vary with the value of the maximum current at which it is intended that the device shall operate to break the circuit.

The second electrode of the device is in the form of a metal rod 30, which projects from a suitable metal plug 31 into the upper end of the hole 20. The plug 31 is suitably mounted Vin the upper side of the inner wall of the shell 10, desirably substantially oppositethe hole 20; and may be held in place by the molding of the insulating material around it. The plug 31 is connected by a wire 32 to a similar plug 33 similarly mounted in the inner side wall of the shell 10 near its closed end. The plug 33 is on the lower .side of the shell 10, so that the mercury may lie upon or against it by gravity when the device is in the position shown in Fig. 2, whereas that cannot happen with the plug 31 in either position illustrated or in any intermediate position as the device is moved clockwise from the position shown in Fig. l to the position shown in Fig. 2. The wire 32 is desirably a supplemental protective device, by being of such material and cross-section that it serves as a fuse to break the circuit upon a predetermined excess of current over the normal maximum which the mercury in the restricted passage 24 is designed to permit. 1

1n the closed end of the shell 10 is mounted a plug 35, which has a head exposed Within the shell and an external threaded shank 36 to which the second lead-in wire 37 may be attached as to "a binding post. The lead-in wire 37, like the lead-in wire 17, is here sumciently flexible to permit the desired movements of the device.

When the device is in the position shown in Fig. l, or off position, the mercury 25 flows as necessary into the hole 20, to till such hole and to iow from the bottom thereof into the lower end of the tube 22 and up such tube until the mercury in the tube reaches substantially the same level as that in the shell 10. This is the position of the device in which the restricted passage 24 is filled with mercury; and the illing is from the top, and the venting which permits such filling is from this bottom of the hole 20. With the device inffthis position shown in` Fig. 1, the circuit isbroken between the plugs 33 and 35, as those plugs are spaced apart, and in this position' of the device there is yno mercury between them to interconnect. them. Thus the plugs 33 and 35, in conjunction with the mercury, serve asthe switching device.

When the device is tilted from the position shown in Fig. 1 in a clockwise direction to the position shown in Fig-2, the mercury in the hole 20 and tube 22 remains there; but the excess mercury which was at the left end of the shell 10 when the device is in the position shown in Fig. 1 ows to the right along such shell upon such tilting, and lills the corner between the plugs 33 and 35; thus connecting those plugs and closing the circuit. Thus the circuit closing occurs at a point remote from the electrodes 15 and 30,` andyby mercury which is not in contact with those electrodes.

Tf now it is desired to break the circuit manually, the device may be tilted counterclockwise from the position shown in Fig. 2 to the position shown inFig. 1. YThis causes the mercury which was in the right end of the shell 10, and which there connected the plugs 33 and 35 together, to flow from that end of the shell to the left end of the shell, and out of contact with those plugs; thus breaking the circuit at such plugs and so at a point remote Jfrom the electrodes 15 and 30.

1f with the device in the position shown in Fig. 2, the value of the current exceeds the normal maximum, the mercury in the restricted portion 24 of the hole 20 is vapor- -mercury out of Contact with the electrodes 15 and 30; and is the normal automatic circuitbreaking action upon normal overloads.

When this automatic breaking of the cir'- cuit occurs, it is necessary in order to re-close the circuit to tilt the device from the position shown in Fig. 2 to the position shown in Fig. 1, and then to return it to the position shown in Fig. 2. The tilting from the position shown in Fig. 2 to the position shown in Fig. 1 first produces an additional break in the circuit betweenthe plugs`33 and 35 by reason of the flow of the mercury from the right end to the left end of the shell 10. Such mercury iows fromthe left end of the shell 10 into the tube 20, and thus againrefills such tube from the top, with a venting from the bottom of the hole 10 through the tube 22. When the hole 2O has thus heenreilled, to produce a connection between the electrodes 15 and 30, the 'subsequent tilting of the device from thc position shown in Fig. l to theposition shown in Fig. 2 causes the excess mercury beyond that required to fill the holes 2O and 21 to ow to the right to connect again the plugs 33 and 35, and thus re-establish the circuit.

'. The tube 22 projects upward beyond the upper end of the plug 14, as before explained so that there will be no possibility veither of re-filling the hole by way of the hole 21, or of providing-a current-path through the tu'be 22 in shunt tothe current-restricting portion of the liquid conductorin the restricted portion 24 of the hole V20. That is, this projection' of the tube 22 prevents the unintended enlargement of the current-capacity of the device by any such shunt path. as well as ensuring filling of the hole 20 from its top.

In case the restricted portion 24 of the hole 20 becomes enlarged for any reason, or any other connection is made between the electrodes 15 and 30 as by a cracking of the plug 14, so that there results a connection between the two electrodes having a current- Icarrying capacity in excess of the normal maximum, the fuse 32'comes into play to break the circuit when and if the current eX- ceeds such excess capacity above the normal maximum. That is, in case the connection between the electrodes 15 and 30 is for any reason enlarged in current-carrying capacity beyond the current-carrying capacity of the fuse 32, and the current rises to a value in excess of that capacity, that fuse fuses to break the circuit; even though the mercury or anything else still interconnects the electrodes 15 and 30.

In the modification shown ,in Figs. 4 and 5, the parte 1o, 11, 12, 1a, 14, 15, 2o, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, and 30 are substantially the same as in the arrangement shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3; save that the electro-de 30', or desirably a portion 30 thereof, may be slightly smaller in cross-section, so that it itself serves as an emergency fuse in case anything happens to prevent the vaporization of the mercury in the restricted portion 24 of the hole 20. That is, the portion 30 of the electrode 30 in the arrangement shown in Fig. 4 takes the place of the fuse 32 of the arrangement shown in-Figs. 1, 2, and 3, in providingan emer-- gency fuse.

In the arrangement shown in Figs. 4 and 5, moreover, the -internal-switching action obtained between the mercury and the plugs 33 and 35 of the arrangement shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3 is removed from the interior of the device to the exterior thereof. To this'end, instead of having a stud 16, the electrode 15 is provided with a switch blade 40, which co-operates with spring fingers 41; and the Vvplug 31 is projected through the shell 10 to the exteriorv thereof, and is there provided with a switch blade 42 which co-operates with spring fingers 43.

Fig. 5 shows the device in normal on position, corresponding to the position of Fig. 2. The normal :automatic circuit-breaking shown; which breaks the circuit by separatby vaporization of the mercury is the same as in the arrangement shown in Figs. 1 and 2; and it is necessary to move the device of Fig. 5 counter-clockwise to the position shown in Fig. 4 to re-fill the hole 20 and tube 22, and then to return it to the position shown in Fig. 5 in order to re-establish the circuit.

However, upon such movement of the device in counter-clockwise direction from the position shown in Fig. 5, the switch blades 40 and 42 are disengaged from the spring fingers 41 and 43, to provide supplemental breaks in the circuit; so that the circuit is not closed when the hole 20 and tube 22 'are 80 filled with mercury while the device is in the position shown in Fig. 4, and is not closed'until the device is returned to the position shown in Fig. 5 and the switch blades 40 and 42 are re-engaged with the spring fingers 41 and 43.

In the same way, to break the circuit manually with the device shown in the position of Fig. 5, such device is turned in a counterclockwise direction from the position there ing the switch blades 4() and 42 from the spring fingers 41 and 43.

I claim as my invention: 1. An' electric circuit controller, comprising a. container movable to different controlling positions, a conduit having its passage communicating with saidcontainer at two separate places, a quantity of liquid conductor located within the space formed by said container and passage buttoo small to fill it, one of said communicating places between the conduit and the container being at all times above the level of any liquid conductor in the container and the other being above such level when the container is in one position 'but below such level when the container is in 4duit to break the connection provided through the conduit between the two electrodes, the parts being so arranged that such blowing out is vmainly at th at Acommunicating place which is capable of being submerged.

2. An electric circuit controller, compris` ing a container movable to off and normal on positions, a conduit having its passage communicating with ysaid container at two separate places, a quantity of liquid conductor located within the space formed by said container and passage but too small to fill it, one of said communicating places between the conduit and the container being at all times above the level of any liquid conductor in the container and thel other being above such level when the container is in normal on position but below suchilevel when `provided by said conduit, said conduit beingarranged so that ,upon excess current there occurs a vaporization of liquid conductor within the conduit that blows liquid condu-ctor out of the conduit to break the connection provided through the conduit between the ,two electrodes, said electrodes being so arranged with respect to the conduit Ithat the blowing out ,of the liquid conductor is mainly at the communicating place which can be submerged below the level of the liquid conductor by a movement of the container to the olf position.

8. An electric circuit controller, comprising a container movable to 0H and normal on positions, a conduit having the two ends of its passage separately communicating with .said container, liquid conductori located within the space formed by said container and passage, and two electrodes which may be connected together by liquid conductor in said conduit when-said container is in normal on7 position; saidparts being so arranged that upon excessive current there occurs vaporization ofliquid conductor in said passage and resultant blowing out of liquid conductor mainly from one end of said passage to break theleireuit, that, end of the conduit being above the level of any liquid conductor in the container save when the container is moved to off position and then being below such level, and the -opposite end of the conduit .beinghigher than the first end thereof when the container is in oft position. 4

4. An electric circuit controller, comprising a container movable to 0R and normal on positions, a conduithaving the two ends of its passage separately communicating with said container', liquid conductor located within' the space formedby said container and passage, and two electrodes which may be connected together by liquid conductor in said conduit when said container is in normal on position; said parts being so arranged that upon excessive current there occurs Vaporization of liquid conductor in said passage and resultant blowing out of liquid conductor mainly from one end' of said passage to break the circuit, both ends of the conduit being above tlielevel of any liquid conductor in the container when the container is in normal on position, and one end of the conduit being above such level for both positions of the container, said latter end being the opposite end of the conduit from'that at which the aforesaid blowing out of the liquid conductor mainly occurs.

5. An electric circuit controller, comprising a container movable to oli and normal on positions, liquid conductor within said container, a conduit having a passage communicating at both ends with said container and including a smaller current-limiting portion which has itsends normally at diierent heights and at which vaporization of liquid conductor occurs upon excessive current to blow liquid conductor out of said passage to break the circuit, said passage being arranged to be re-filled from the end thereof which leads to that end of -said current-limiting portion which is uppermost when the circuit is closed and upon such re-lilling to be vented from the .end which leads to that end of said current-limiting portion which is lowermost when the circuit is closed.

6. An electric circuit controller, comprising a movable container, liquid conductor contained therein, a conduit having its passage communicating with said container at two separate places, two electrodes which may be connected together by liquid conductor in said passage, said passage having a portion of such size that upon excess current-How there occurs therein vaporization of liquid conductor to blow liquid conductor out of said passage to break such circuit between such electrodes, said parts being so arranged that the container must be-tilted to another position from that at which such blowing out occurred in order to re-lill said passage to re-connect said electrodes, and switching mechanism separate from but in series with said electrodes for closing the circuit when the container is in the position where such blowing out may occur and for opening the circuit when the container is in said passage-filling position.

l. An electric circuit controller, comprising a movable container, liquid conductor contained therein, a conduit having its passageA communicating with said container at two separate places, two electrodes which may be connected together by liquid conductor in said passage, said passage having a portion of such size that upon excess current-flow there occurs therein vaporization of liquid conductor to blow liquid conductor out of said passage to break such circuit between such electrodes, said parts being so arranged that the container must be-tilted to another position from that at Iwhich such blowing out occurred in order to re-illsaid passage to reconnect said electrodes` and switching mechanism separate from but in series with said electrodes for closing the circuit when the container is in the position where such blowing out may occur and for opening the ci'rcuit when the ycontainer is in said passage,- filling position, said switching mechanism and said container being operable in 'coniinon.

8. An electric circuit controller, comprisby liquid conductor insaid passage, said' electrodes which may be connected together passage having a portion of`such size that upon excess current-flow there occurs' therein vaporization of liquid conductor to blow li Y uid conductor out of said passage to brea such circuit between such electrodes, saidk parts being so arranged that ,the container must be tilted to another position from that 10 at which such blowing out occurred in order to re-fill said passage t0 re-connect said electrodes, and switching mechanism separate from but in series with. said electrodes Vfor vclosing the circuit when the container is in the position where such blowing out may occur and for opening the circuit when the container is in said passage-filling position, said switching mechanism being located within said container and including two members which are connectible by said liquid conductor separate from but in series with said electrodes.

9. An electric circuit controller, comprising a movable container, a conduit having its passage communicating with said container, liquid conductor located within the space formed by said container -and passage, two electrodes which may be connected together by liquid conductor in said passage, said passage having a portion of such size that upon excessive current there occurs therein vaporization of liquid conductor to blow liquid conductor out of the tpassage and thus break the circuit between the electrodes; and an emergency fuse device having a greater currentcarrying capacity than the normal currenty carrying capacity of the liquid conductorbetween said electrodes, so that in case thecurrent-carrying capacity between the electrodes is increased in any manner said supplemental fuse comes into play to break the circuit vwhen a definite higher excess-current value is reached than the normal excessive-current value to which the device is responsive.

, -.10. Anelectric circuit controller, comprising a movable container, a conduit having its passage communicating with said container,

vliquid conductor located l,within the space formed by said container and passage, two electrodes which. may be'connected together. by liquid conductor in said passage, said passage having a portion of such size that upon excessive current there occurs therein vaporization of liquid conductor to blow liquid conductor out of the passage. and thus break the circuit between the electrodes; and an emergency fuse device having a greater current-carrying capacity than the normal current-carrying capacity of the liquid conductor between said electrodes, so that in case the current-carrylng capacity between the v electrodes is increased in any manner'said supplemental fuse comes intoplay to break the circuit when a definite higher excess-current value is reached than the normal excessive-current value to which the device is responsive said emergency fuse device being located within said container but separate from the electrodes.

11. An electric circuit controller, compris.- ing a movable container, a conduit having its passage communicating with said container, liquid conductor located, within the space formed by said container and passage, two electrodes which may be connected together by liquid conductor in said passage, said passage having a portion of such size that upon excessive current there occurs therein vaporization of liquid conductor to blow liquid conductor out of the passage and thus break the circuit between the electrodes; and an emergency fuse device having a greater current-carrying capacity than the normal current-carrying capacity of the liquid conductor between said electrodes, so that in case the current-carrying capacity between the electrodes is increased in any manner said supplemental fuse comes into play to break the circuit when a definite higher excesscurrent value is reached than the normal excessive-current value to which the device-is responsive, said emergency fuse device being located within said container.

l2. An electric circuit controller, comprising a movable container having a plurality of controlling positions including a normal circuit-closing position, a quantity of liquid conductor within the container, a tube of heat-resisting insulation having one end com- I municating with the container, a conduit which interconnects the other end of said tube with the container, two electrodes connectible together by liquid conductor when it is in and extends along a substantial portion of the length of said tube, and connecting means co-operating with the electrodes and through which the electrodes may be connected in a circuit, said container, conduit, and tube having a shape and relation which constrain passage of the liquid conductor by gravity from the container. through the tube and into the conduit upon a predetermined movement of the container away from said normal circuit-closing position.

' 13. An electric circuit controller, comprisprevent its return thereinto while the container is in normal circuit-closing position.y

14. An electric circuit controller, comprising a movable container having a plurality of controllingpositions including a normal circuit-closing position, a quantity of liquidfeonductor within the container, a tube of heat-v resisting insulation having one end communii. lcating vwith the container, a conduit which interconnects the other 'end of said tube with the container, two electrodes connectible together by liquid conductor when it is in and ,extends along aI substantial portion of the length of said tube', connecting means co-operating with .the electrodes and through which the electrodes may be connected lin a f circuit, and an emergency Jfuse-element supported by the container and in series with the electrodes, said fuse element having `a current-carrying capacity in predetermined eX- cess of the normal current-carryingv capacity of the liquid conductor interconnecting the electrodes.

15. An electric circuit controller as set forth in claim 12, with the addition of an emergency fuse element supported by the container and in series with the electrodes, said 'fuse element having a current-carrying capacity in predetermined excess of the normal current-carrying capacity of the liquid conductor interconnecting the electrodes.

16. An electric circuit controller, comprising a movable container having a plurality of controlling positions including a normal circuit-closing position, a quantity of liquid conductor within the container, a. tube of heat-resisting insulation having its passage communicating with the container, two electrodes arranged for connection to a circu t and connectible together by liquid conduct rr when it is in and extends along a substanti l portion of the length of said tube, and an emergency fuse element supported by the container and in series with the electrodes, said fuse element having a current-carrying capacity in predetermined excess of the normal current-carrying capacity of the liquid conductorinterconnecting the electrodes.

17.@An electric circuit controller as set forth in claim 16, with the addition that said 'container and tube have a shape and relation which upon the expulsion ot liquid conductor -from the tube prevent its return thereinto while the container is in normal circuit-closing position.

aseaeee the space providedby said container and conduit, and two electrodes associated with said conduit to be interconnectible by said liquid conductor extending through said currentlimiting conduit-portion to provide a current path lengthwise thereof; said circuit controller being provided with means for feeding said liquid conductor at will into the aforesaid passage-portion at the higher end thereof. l

19. An electric circuit controller having a movable member, and comprising a container, a' tubular conduit opening at both ends into a common space in said container, said con-V duit having a passage-portion which is highei` at one end than at the other when the circuit through the circuit controller is.

closed and which includes a current-limiting vportion of predetermined dimensions, liquid conductor within the space provided by `said container and conduit, and two electrodes associated with said conduit to be interconnectible by said liquid conductor extending through said current-limiting conduit-portion to provide a current path lengthwise thereof; the aforesaid passage-portion being associated with said movable member to have said liquid conductor fed into it at the higher. end thereof by movement of said movableV member, and under suiiicient head to overcome any surface tension tending to prevent such'feeding. v

20. An electric circuit controller having a movable member movable to 0H and normal on positions, and comprising a container, a tubular conduit opening at both ends within said container, said conduit having a current-limiting portion which is of predetermined dimensions and is higher at one end than at the other when said movable memben is in normal on7 position, liquid conductor within said container and conduit, and two electrodes associated with said conduit to be interconnected by said liquid conductor eX- tending through said current-limiting conduit-portion but otherwise insulated from each other; said current-limiting conduitportion being associated with saidmovable member to have liquid conductor fed to it at its higher end by movement of the movable member.

21. An electric circuit controller comprising a container, liquid conductor in the container, a current-limiting insulating tube having its two ends separately communicating with the container at substantially diierent levels, two electrodes interconnectible by liquid conductor along a current path extending lengthwise through said tube, said container and tube being provided with means to .feed liquid conductor from the container the container, two electrodes interconnectible by liquid conductor along a current path extending lengthwise through said tube, said container and tube being provided with In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at Indianapolis, Indiana, this 2d day of November, A. D. one thousand nine hundred and twenty ei ht.

S ANLEY S. GREEN.

means to feed liquid conductor from the container into a liquid-receiving end of the tube to interconnect the electrodes, and said tube being positioned upon s'uch interconnection to cause current-carrying liquid conductor Within itto occupy a lower level with respect .to the container than the level occupied by the saine liquid conductor in the container before saidl feeding process, the other end of said tube being positioned to provide a. vent above the liquid levelv during said feeding process.

23. An overload-protective electric circuit controller comprising a container, liquid conductor, an insulating ontrol-tube capable of holding a portion of said liquid conductor, two electrodes interconnectible by liquid conductor along a path extending lengthwise through said control tube, said control tube communicating at one end with the conv taineigja vent tube having one opening communicating with the interior of the container and another opening 'communicating with the other end ofthe control-tube, said container being provided with means to feed liquid conductor downwardly into the control tube, and one electi'ode during such feeding process being spaced and insulated from liquid conductor in the vent tube to prevent interconnection of said electrodes by liquid conductor along any path which does not include in series with it the liquid conductor contained in the control tube.

24. An electric circuit controller, coniprising acontainer movable to different controlling positions including a normal circuitclosing position, liquid conductor within the container, an insulating control tube having one end communicating with the container,A a conduit which interconnects the other end of said tube with the container, two electrodes interconnectible by liquid conductor along a path extending lengthwise through said control tube, and connectingv means cooperating with the electrodes and through which the electrodes may be conv nected in the controlled circuit, said connecting means being arranged to open said circuit when the movable container is 1n one controlling position.

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